Where No. 25 BYU Cougars’ three plays in under four minutes decided a 34-13 win over East Carolina to move to 3-0, the honorable mention from Saturday belongs to their workhorse in the backfield. Both squads look much different than the versions that met in last year’s Alamo Bowl, but Cougars coach Kalani Sitake already has his eye on what’s next: a revenge-minded Colorado team with plenty to prove.

The real headline came from LJ Martin, the sophomore running back who keeps stacking program history. He started slow, just 30 yards in the first quarter, but that was enough to push him past the 1,500-yard career rushing mark. By the time the night was done, Martin finished with 14 carries for 101 yards and his first touchdown of the season. That stat line also put him in rare company, three straight 100-yard games to open a season, joining Marcus Whalen as the only BYU backs ever to do it. Even better? He’s averaging a ridiculous 8.6 yards per carry.

But what separates Martin from the usual star runner is his mindset. He’s not pounding the table for more touches or keeping tabs on his numbers. Kalani Sitake couldn’t help but point that out after the win. “LJ has always been a team guy,” the coach said. “That’s the main thing. It’s never been about him and his numbers and his carries. Those first two games, he could have been out there and demanded the ball more. But I think he understands what we’re trying to accomplish, that we need to keep working on some depth and getting other guys a chance.” For a back-producing video-game efficiency, that’s about as rare as the record itself.

The Cougars are going to need more of that team-first mentality this week. Another school history maker, first freshman QB1, Bear Bachmeier, passed his first real road test in Greenville after a rocky start, throwing for 246 yards, one touchdown, no picks, and adding a rushing score. More importantly, he showed poise against an EC defense that brought pressure early and often. Martin’s consistency and Bachmeier’s settling nerves might just be the formula the Cougs ride on deep into this season.

The challenge cranks up now. On Saturday, BYU heads straight into the storm of a CU team with plenty of bad memories to draw from.

Kalani Sitake respects Prime, but Cougs expect payback attempt

Only 9 months ago, Deion Sanders’ Buffs closed their year with a thud in the Alamo Bowl against these very Cougs. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter both played their final game in that one, but the bigger sting was the start. 27 unanswered points surrendered, no answers against BYU’s defensive line, and a flat 36-14 defeat. Kalani Sitake knows that history fuels revenge games. The Buffs may look different without their two stars, but a roster doesn’t forget humiliation that quickly.

You know, with Sanders at the helm, the Buffaloes aren’t short on talent or confidence. Even though after a turbulent 2-2 start, Kalani Sitake admitted he’s still circling this one with extra focus.

“Looking forward to the matchup against Colorado,” Sitake said. “Coach Prime will tell you that our relationship, I have tons of respect and admiration for him and what he’s done as a coach and as a father. It’s not going to be an easy game to go in there, and I’m sure they remember the bowl game. I’m sure they want some payback. But it’s a different year, a different, different mindset.”

BYU’s record-breaking weapons will face a 2–2 Buffs squad that may cycle through all three QBs. And as BYU TE Carsen Ryan put it: “It’s a loud crowd there.” He personally experienced it when he played against CU with UCLA and Utah.